cutting holes in gazing balls Re: Van de Graaff (fwd)

[Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2003 17:11:33 -0800
From: Jim Lux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: cutting holes in gazing balls Re: Van de Graaff

You can get small diamond cutoff wheels fairly cheaply and put them into
something like an angle grinder. Holding the sphere while you do all this is
going to be a pain.

Find someone with a plasma cutter, which cuts stainless like the proverbial
butter.  A small oxy-acetylene rig like you use for silver soldering might
get the metal soft enough to ruin the hardening, so you can cut it.

I would call around to auto body or custom motorcycle places and find some
skilled metalworker.  They'll have the tools, and the jigs, and the skills
needed.  They can probably even bend in the edge in a nice re-entrant curve
to reduce corona with a hammer and dolly. They could probably also TIG weld
a mounting stud inside (although JB Weld might work just as well).  At least
they'll be good at keeping the surface finish looking good.

Those balls are nice.. real smooth polished surface, etc.

That's what we need.. some off-shore manufacturer to decide that toroidal
and oblate objects with holes in them is the hot and fashionable thing to
have in your garden.  Maybe gazing balls as planters?


----- Original Message -----
From: "High Voltage list" <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 4:54 PM
Subject: Re: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)


> Original poster: Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxx>
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:20:41 -0700
> From: Terrell Fritz <terrellfone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)
>
> Hi Ed,
>
> It is rock hard stainless steel, Probably need a grinder like a cut-off
> wheel in a dremal tool or die grinder.  Forget a hole saw unless it has
> cobalt alloy teeth no normal saw or drill bit will touch it.  Once cut, a
> belt sander can finish the edge.  I'll probably try it all an a little
> cheap one first.  If I were really desperate, I would have it waterjet
cut.
>
> Cheers,
>
>          Terry
>
>
> At 10:07 PM 12/30/2003, you wrote:
> >Original poster: Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxx>
> >
> >
> >
> >---------- Forwarded message ----------
> >Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2003 14:29:54 EST
> >From: Esondrmn@xxxxxxx
> >To: hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx
> >Subject: Re: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)
> >
> >In a message dated 12/27/03 2:05:27 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> >hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
> >
> >
> > > Hi All,
> > >
> > > Many thanks for everyone's thoughts!!
> > >
> > > I will go ahead and build the thing.  It sounds just about right
safety
> > > wise.  Not a toy by any means, but not like a case of dynamite either.
> > >
> > > It sounds just about right :-))
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > >
> > >     Terry
> > >
> >
> >Terry,
> >
> >What is your top load (sphere) made of and how do you plan to cut the
hole to
> >mount it?  I have a similar sized stainless steel (gazing ball) sphere
but I
> >have thought how difficult it would be to use a hole saw to cut a 3" or
4"
> >hole in it.  Heck, it is difficult just to drill a hole in one of these
> >things.
> >
> >How about a belt?  What do you plan to use?
> >
> >Ed Sonderman
>
>